The once-powerful Carlton Football Club came out of the late 1990s as one of the strongest clubs in the AFL.
Having made three grand final appearances in the 90s, the Navy Blues were expected to enter the Noughties with a bang.
However, instead, Carlton didn’t finish higher than 11th for six years in a row between 2002 and 2008.
It was one of the lowest eras of the club’s history and there were many dark days.
However, the powerful Melbourne club fought its way back. They secured three number one draft picks in Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Matthew Kruezer, and Brownlow medallist Chris Judd.
They built themselves a solid base to become the powerhouse of the AFL, just as they were in the 90s.
Carlton may have snuck into the eight last season, but it seems that another dark era in the club’s history is just around the corner.
The off-season recruiting by the Blues was polished by the signing of classy Magpies midfielder, Dale Thomas, but if you look into some of the first-year and mature-age recruits, the mighty Blues future does not look so mighty!
Another hit to the Blues future will be the eventual downfall of the one and only Chris Judd. As good as he has been for Carlton, every career has to come to an end.
It seems as though the two-time Brownlow medallist runs out with more and more strapping holding all his injuries together every game! Although he may not be done yet, the end is near for the great Chris Judd.
Carlton face arch rivals Richmond next and it will be a good test to see what’s in store this season, and to see if they can notch their first win for the year.
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